How to Make Pictures Appear in HTML Emails

Mia Chevalier

Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 4:01:47 PM

Resolving Image Display Issues in Outlook Emails
It can be annoying when photos in HTML emails don't display, especially when they show up fine on live servers. When using email programs like Outlook, where images need to be correctly referenced and integrated, this typical issue frequently occurs. Visibility depends on your picture URLs being able to be accessed and formatted appropriately in your email HTML code.
In the scenario given, even though the image is hosted online and accessible through its URL, the issue still exists. This scenario raises the possibility that Outlook's security settings or processing of image links are problematic and are preventing the image from being displayed. To investigate and resolve the display issue, one must comprehend these subtleties.

Command Description

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> Specifies the HTML document's character encoding, which is essential for email templates to guarantee that characters are shown correctly in a variety of email clients.

curl_init() Creates a new session and returns a cURL handle that may be used with PHP's curl_setopt(), curl_exec(), and curl_close() methods.

curl_setopt() Configures a cURL session's settings. This command is used to return the result as a string and to specify extra parameters such as the URL to fetch.

curl_exec() Fetches the URL given in the curl_setopt() method by executing the cURL session.

curl_getinfo() Obtains details about a particular transfer; in this case, it is used to get the fetched URL's HTTP status code in order to confirm accessibility.

curl_close() Ends a cURL session and releases all available resources. To prevent memory leaks, the session must be closed after every cURL function.

Command	Description
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">	Specifies the HTML document's character encoding, which is essential for email templates to guarantee that characters are shown correctly in a variety of email clients.
curl_init()	Creates a new session and returns a cURL handle that may be used with PHP's curl_setopt(), curl_exec(), and curl_close() methods.
curl_setopt()	Configures a cURL session's settings. This command is used to return the result as a string and to specify extra parameters such as the URL to fetch.
curl_exec()	Fetches the URL given in the curl_setopt() method by executing the cURL session.
curl_getinfo()	Obtains details about a particular transfer; in this case, it is used to get the fetched URL's HTTP status code in order to confirm accessibility.
curl_close()	Ends a cURL session and releases all available resources. To prevent memory leaks, the session must be closed after every cURL function.

Comprehending PHP Scripts and HTML for Email Image Display

The HTML script that is supplied is made especially to insert an image into an HTML email template. This script embeds an internet image using the tag so that it can be seen when the email is viewed. It is important to include in the section because it specifies the character encoding and content type, which aid in appropriately displaying the email content in various email clients.

By employing many cURL commands to confirm that the picture URL is accessible, the PHP script improves the dependability of image display in emails. Together, commands like , , and establish the parameters for URL fetching, start a cURL session, and carry out the session, respectively. The HTTP status code is then obtained using the function curl_getinfo(), which verifies whether or not the picture is accessible. When the response code is 200, it indicates that the image may be accessed successfully via the internet.

Ensuring Outlook Displays HTML Email Images

HTML and CSS Implementation

<!-- HTML part of the email -->
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<title>Email with Image</title>
<style>
  body, html, table {
    margin: 0px; padding: 0px; height: 100%; width: 100%;
    background-color: #5200FF;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="text-align: center;">
      <img src="https://d.img.vision/datafit/logoWhite.png" alt="Logo" style="max-height: 200px; max-width: 200px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>

Checking and Correcting Email Client Image Accessibility

Server-Side Scripting with PHP

//php
// Define the image URL
$imageUrl = 'https://d.img.vision/datafit/logoWhite.png';
// Use cURL to check if the image is accessible
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $imageUrl);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_NOBODY, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_exec($ch);
$responseCode = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
// Check if the image is accessible
if ($responseCode == 200) {
  echo 'Image is accessible and can be embedded in emails.';
} else {
  echo 'Image is not accessible, check the URL or permissions.';
}
curl_close($ch);
//

Enhancing HTML Email Interoperability Among Email Clients

Making sure the photos work with different browsers is a vital consideration that is sometimes missed when embedding images in HTML emails. Different email programs, such as Gmail, Apple Mail, and Outlook, might interpret HTML code differently, which can cause differences in the way emails appear. Use of inline CSS is crucial for optimizing HTML emails for different email clients; CSS styles that aren't supported by all email clients should be avoided. For example, certain clients may not support either internal or external stylesheets, and characteristics such as'max-width' are frequently disregarded, particularly in Outlook versions that are older.

It's also a good idea to test emails on a variety of clients before distributing them. Email clients and devices may preview components, including photos, with tools like Litmus and Email on Acid, ensuring that everything renders appropriately. This proactive technique facilitates revisions prior to final dispatch by identifying possible issues that may impair the email's layout or image visibility.

Why don't pictures appear in emails sent with Outlook?
For security reasons, Outlook may refuse to open photos from external sources or may not support certain CSS features used in the email.
How can I ensure that every email client displays my images?
When styling, use inline CSS, maintain flexibility in the proportions of your images, and test your email on many clients before sending.
What size image should I include in an HTML email?
Email photos should ideally be no wider than 600 pixels in order to fit in the standard email viewing pane.
Is it possible to utilize web fonts in HTML emails?
Sure, however bear in mind that not every email client is compatible with online fonts. Provide backup fonts to make sure everything works.
Does hosting photos on a secure server become necessary?
Indeed, if you host photos via HTTPS, you can avoid problems with security and accessibility in most email clients.

Understanding the subtleties of email client behavior is necessary to include photos in HTML emails successfully, especially when working with clients like Outlook. The reliability of picture display can be greatly increased by making sure that images are available via HTTPS, customizing emails with inline CSS, and testing emails beforehand using programs like Litmus or Email on Acid. Ultimately, to achieve consistent outcomes across all platforms, careful testing and adherence to best practices in email design are essential.